KSReds: Cincinnati Reds Avoid Sweep With Sunday Win

After the brutal 3-22 start to the season, the Cincinnati Reds had played .500 baseball at 41-41 leading into this week. However, a five-game losing streak stopped the positive momentum as injuries started to pile up. After losing the Field of Dreams game on Thursday, and splitting the weekend in Cincinnati, the Reds now sit at 45-68 on the season.

Cincinnati will stick around at Great American Ball Park for a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Mike Minor is scheduled to make the start on Monday night at 6:40 p.m. EST opposite Noah Syndergaard. T.J. Zeuch and Nick Lodolo have also been announced as starting pitchers for the Reds on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Reds Fall in Field of Dreams Game

All eyes of the baseball universe were on the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs on Thursday evening. The annual Field of Dreams game has quickly become one of the best events that Major League Baseball has to offer. While Thursday’s matchup didn’t have the drama of last season’s Chicago White Sox walk-off win, it still was a competitive game with an outstanding atmosphere in Iowa.

Nick Lodolo appeared to have his best stuff when the game began. After inducing a groundout to short and a soft tapper back to himself, Lodolo needed just six pitches to record two outs. However, the wheels fell off quickly at that point. The rookie left-hander hit the back foot of Patrick Wisdom on a 1-2 pitch to put a runner on. Then, three consecutive hits later and it was 3-0 in the Cubs’ favor. That would prove to be all the run support they would need as the Reds bats could simply never get going. Matt Reynolds doubled to the wall in right-centerfield to drive in two runs, but that was all the offense Cincinnati could muster. Chicago took game one of the series 4-2 at the Field of Dreams.

Ian Happ Remains a Thorn in the Side

It is a tale as old as time for Cincinnati Reds fans. Ian Happ came to town and led the Chicago Cubs to a victory at Great American Ball Park. The veteran outfielder drove in four runs on Saturday night including a three-run home run in the seventh inning that put the icing on the cake. There might be a parade in Cincinnati whenever Happ decides to hang up the cleats.

Alongside Happ, Franmil Reyes and Wilson Contreras also went deep for the Cubs on their way to a 7-2 win. At the plate for the Reds, only Kyle Farmer provided any offense. The shortstop drove in a run with a single in the first inning to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. He then had another RBI single in the fifth that made it 3-2. However, that was as close as the score would get. The loss marked the fifth straight for Cincinnati.

Reds Avoid Sweep With Sunday Win

The Cincinnati Reds snapped a five-game losing streak on Sunday with a come-from-behind victory over the Chicago Cubs. Patrick Wisdom hit a two-run home run to left field to put the Cubs up 2-0 in the second inning. Cincinnati quickly answered in the bottom half of the frame with a three-run blast off the bat of Aristides Aquino followed by a RBI single by Kyle Farmer to make it 4-2. However, the Cubs would come back in the fourth with back-to-back home runs to climb on top. Catcher Yan Gomes tied it up with a two-run shot and then Christopher Morel took the lead for the Cubs with a solo blast.

Once again the Reds answered right away with the game-tying run in the bottom of the fourth inning. In the fifth, Jose Barrero singled to left field to put the Reds on top and Austin Romine added a bases-clearing, three-run double to set the eventual final score of 8-5. Down the stretch, the Cincinnati bullpen came through with some excellent innings. Reiver Sanmartin, Joel Kuhnel, Buck Farmer, Hunter Strickland, and Alex Diaz combined for five and one-third shutout innings of work, allowing just four hits. The Reds are now 45-68 on the season.